Number of Participants With Complete Remission [ Time Frame: Response evaluated following first course at 14 -21 days and 1-2 weeks later to confirm response status (or at the time of hematologic recovery) and with visits every 2-3 courses. ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Complete remission (CR) required a marrow with ≤ 5% blasts in a normo- or hypercellular marrow with an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) of ≥ 1 * 10^9/L and a platelet count of ≥ 100 * 10^9/L with complete resolution of all sites of extramedullary disease required.

The goal of this clinical research study is to learn if a special combination of chemotherapy drugs called "augmented hyper-CVAD chemotherapy" given over 6 to 8 months followed by monthly maintenance chemotherapy for one year can help to control acute lymphoblastic leukemia or lymphoblastic lymphoma. The safety of this therapy will also be studied.

Detailed Description

The augmented hyper-CVAD chemotherapy is a combination of chemotherapy drugs including cyclophosphamide, vincristine, adriamycin, dexamethasone, and pegaspargase given together for one "course" of treatment. It is called "augmented" because additional drugs are being added to the hyper-CVAD combination, which is the standard combination of chemotherapy drugs for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia or lymphoblastic lymphoma. This switches back and forth with a course of the chemotherapy drugs methotrexate and ara-C (also with vincristine, dexamethasone, and pegaspargase).

Before treatment starts, you will have a physical exam, including blood (about 8 teaspoons) tests. You will also have a bone marrow sample taken; the sample will be taken through a large needle in the hipbone.

All participants will receive 2 kinds of chemotherapy courses for a total of 8 courses. Chemotherapy courses will be given through a large vein by a central venous catheter (a plastic tube usually placed under the collarbone).

During treatment, you will have a physical exam and give blood samples (about 1 tablespoon each) at least twice a week. A bone marrow sample will be repeated 2-3 weeks after the start of treatment to check the response, and later as needed.

Course 1 will include cyclophosphamide given by vein over 2-3 hours every 12 hours. This will be given for 6 doses over 3 days (Days 1, 2 and 3). Adriamycin will be given by vein over 24 hours on Day 4. Vincristine will be given by vein over 15 to 30 minutes on Days 1, 8, and 15. Dexamethasone (a steroid) will be given by mouth or by vein on Days 1 to 4 and 15-18. Pegaspargase will be given by vein over 1-2 hours on Day 1.

G-CSF (growth colony stimulating factor) will be given starting 24 hours after each course of chemotherapy is finished (Day 5 or 6). It is given to help with rapid recovery of the normal bone marrow. G-CSF will be injected by vein or under the skin until the blood counts recover.

Treatment to the brain will be given inside the spinal fluid (spinal tap) with ara-C and methotrexate on Days 2 and 7 of Courses 1 and 2 for a total of 4 treatments. This is done to decrease the risk that the leukemia will develop there.

During Course 2, you will receive methotrexate by infusion over 24 hours on the first day and ara-C by vein at a high dose over 2 hours every 12 hours for 4 doses (Days 2 and 3). You will also receive vincristine (Days 1, 8, and 15), dexamethasone (Days 1-4 and 15-18), and pegaspargase (Day 5).

Citrovorum factor (leucovorin), an antidote for side effects of methotrexate, will be given by vein or by mouth for 2-3 days (Day 2 and on). G-CSF will be given as in Course 1 (24 hours after the chemotherapy is finished). The treatment to the brain inside the spinal fluid will be given as in Course 1 on Days 2 and 7.

The schedule of chemotherapy will switch between hyper-CVAD (Courses 3, 5, and 7) and methotrexate/ara-C (Courses 4, 6 and 8) to complete a total of 8 courses. After the 8 courses, you will go on maintenance chemotherapy. This includes daily 6-mercaptopurine taken by mouth, weekly methotrexate by vein or mouth, monthly vincristine by vein, and prednisone by mouth for 5 days every month. Maintenance therapy will continue for one year.

Treatment will be given on an inpatient or outpatient basis for the 8 intensive courses of chemotherapy, as indicated by your condition. The maintenance treatments may be given as an outpatient. Patients will be taken off study if the disease gets worse or if intolerable side effects occur.

This is an investigational study. All of the drugs are commercially available. Their use together in this study is investigational. About 90 patients will take part in this study. All will be enrolled at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center.